Pulverizing and classifying machine



Sept. 2, '1952 P. D'ARAGON PULVERIZING AND CLASSIFYING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1949 w a w k a .wfA lm m 7W w Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PULVERIZING AND CLASSIFYING 'MACHINE Paul DAragon, Val dOr, Quebec, Canada Application June 18, 1949, Serial No. 99,957

This invention relates to improvements in the pulverlzation and classification of rock, ore, charcoaland other materials and the object is to provide a simple and efficient pulverizing and classifying apparatus wherein the particles of material being treated are pulverized in a novel and eflicient manner by the application of crushing pressure thereto.-

More particularly, the invention consists in the provision-of apulverizing and classifying machine wherein the motion of an eccentric is utilized to efiect a circulatory movement of a charge of steel ballsor other crushing elements and to thereby cause the particles of material being treated to be subjected to direct crushing pressure between crushing surfaces afiorded by the eccentric, the crushing elements and a receptacle containing the eccentric and the crushing elements.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which the single figure is a vertical sectional view of my improved pulverizing and classifying machine.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 5 designates a stationary bowl-shaped receptacle integrally joined to abase 6 by reinforcing ribs or webs l. Theentire inside surface of receptacle 5 is protected by a hard wear-resistant lining 8 shaped to conform closely to the shape of said surface.

The circumferential wall of receptacle 5 includes an upper cylindrical portion 9 of relatively large diameter and a lower conical portion I!) of gradually decreasing diameter toward the bottom wall H which is substantially flat and of relatively small diameter.

A vertically extending stationary shaft I3 is centrally disposed in receptacle 5 with the lower endof the shaft exte nding' downwardly through a-hole 14 in the bottom wall of the receptacle'an'd into a step-bearing I5 carried by the base 5. The upper end of shaft [3 is fitted in a bearing l 5 afforded by the central-portion of a spider H mounted on and rigidlysecured to the rim of receptacle 5. 1

Shaft l3 carries a rotatable eccentric in the former a sleeve 19 provided with an eccentric bore 20 through which the shaft extends. A gear 21 and a'sectional bearinghousing 22 are rigidly secured to the'upper end of sleeve is by suitable fastening means 23. Bearing housing22 encloses and is rotatably supported by a bearing ring ZlrigidIyfsecured to the upper portion of shaft 13. The bearing housing 22- andthe bear- 12 Claims. (Cl. 241-41) ing ring 24 serve to rotatably support eccentricsleeve I9 on shaft l3 with the lower end of the: sleeve spaced a slight distance above the bottom wall ll of receptacle 5. Eccentric sleeve I9 .is surrounded by a closely fitting rotatable member 25 provided with a concentric bore 21 through which said sleeve extends. The upper 'end' of tubular member 26 is welded, as indicated at 28, to a sectional bearing housing 29 which encloses 0 and is rotatably supported by a bearing ring 30 members 31 whose upper ends rigidly secured to the upper portion of eccentric sleeve l9. By virtue of the bearing housing'29 and bearing ring at the tubular member. 26 is supported for free rotation on eccentric sleeve [9 with the lower end of the tubular member spaced a slight distance above the bottom wall ll of re-v ceptacle 5. The lower portion of tubular member 26 is enlarged radially to provide a flange-like foot member 32 having its upper surface 33 concavely curved as shown in the drawing.

A plate 34 is rigidly secured to the upper'portion of eccentric sleeve l9 so that said plate lies between the gear Zl and the bearing casing 29 secured to the upper end of tubular member 26; A plurality of radially extending arms 35 are formed integral with the periphery of plate'34 and incline downwardly and outwardly there'- from. The outer lower ends of the inclined arms 35 are rigidly secured to the outer ends of horizontally extending arms 36 arranged radially around the tubular member 26 at some distance below the upper end of said member. The inner ends of the horizontally extending arms 36 are rigidly secured to the lower end of supporting are rigidly secured to plate 34.

A circular series of adjustable plates 40 are arranged around the circumferential wall of receptacle 6 a short distance below the radially extending horizontal arms 36. The plates 40 are inclined vertically so that their outer edges are lower than their inner edges and are positioned relatively close to the inner surface of the cylindrical circumferential wall portion 9 of receptacle 5. The outer portions of plates 40 are equipped with rigidly attached supporting guide rods 4'! extending upwardly therefrom through-openings provided in suitable lugs 43 rigidly secured to the lining 8 of receptacle 5. The rods 4| are slidably fitted in the lugs 43 and are provided with threaded adjusting collars 44 engageable with the upper surfaces of the lugs 43 to limit the downward movement of the rods and the attached plates 40.

Coiled springs 45 encircle the lower portion of rods 4| and are confined between the outer portions of the plates 40 and the lugs 42. These springs normally serve to force the plates 40 downwardly to the lowest position to which the plates are permitted to travel by the top 001- lars 44.

The material to be pulverized is introduced into the receptacle 5 through a suitable feed chute 41 and is pulverized as hereinafter described by the motion of the eccentric sleeve I9 and the tubular member 26 acting in conjunction with a mass of pulverizing or crushing elements 48 which are similar to the pulverizing elements employed in conventional ball mills and may 90m sist of hardened steel balls, cubes, or other suit- N able shapes.

In the operation of the machine described herein the receptacle 5 is charged with the ma- I terial to be crushed and with a mass of the crushing elements 48 so that the level of the total charge is approximately as indicated at X. The eccentric sleeve 19 is then continuously rotated about shaft [:3 by means of a suitable driving gear (not shown) meshing with gear 2.1.. This produces an eccentric movement of the independently rotatable tubular crushing member 26 which, in turn, has the eifect of producing a .cir culating movement of the crushing elements 48 and the charge of crushable material introduced into receptacle 5. This circulating movement is such that the crushing elements and the crushable material are caused to travel downwardly adjacent the tubular crushing member 26 and upwardly in a spiral fashion adjacent the inner surface of the circumferential wall of the receptacle 5 and this circulation .of the crushing elements andcrushable material is aided by the provision of the curve shape of the foot member 32 provided at the lower end of the tubular crushingmember 26.

An important characteristic feature of the ma chine described herein is that the crushing or Pulverization of the crushable material is effected, not by impact, but by the direct application of crushing pressure applied by the circulating movement of the crushing elements 48 in conjunction with the eccentric motion of the tubular crushing member 25 and the crushing surface afforded by the circumferential wall of the recep acle 5. In this connection it ppears that the particles of material bein crushed or pulverized tend to wedge themselves between the cr i element .48 and the crushin surfaces afforded by the tubular crushing member 26 and the circumferential wall of vessel 5 and to resist the movement of the crushing elements 4.8 so that the latter are forced to overcome this resistance by crushin the particles of crushable material by the application of direct crushing pressure.

The classification of the pulverized material and the discharge thereof through the outlet 48' is effective by forcing upwardly directed streams of air, water or flotation liquid into the receptacle 5 through suitable openings 5| pro-. vided for this purpose. This classification and discharge o the crushable material also improves the crushing action.

In the case of wet pulverization involving the injection of water or flotation liquid through the openings 5! the classification is aided by the rot ry m vement and a i tin effec of h arm 35 and 36 which are carried by and rotate with the eccentric sleeve IS. The continuous removal of the fines as they reach the level of the outlet 4B prevents sliming and contributes to the efficiency of the crushing or pulverizing action of the machine.

In order to obtain the most efficient results it is important that the level of the char e of crushing elements 48 and the crushable material contained in the receptacle 5 during the crushing action be predetermined in relation to the size and shape of the receptacle. If the height of the charge contained in the receptacle is too great the required movement of the eccentric tubular crushing member 23 will be prevented or retarded to an undesirable degree. On the other hand, if the charge of crushing elements 48 and crushable material contained in the receptacle is too small the crushing elements will circulate too freely in the receptacle under the influence of the eccentric motion of the tubular member 26 and the eihciency of the crushing of the crushable material by the application of direct crushins pressure thereto will be impaired. It is possible, however, for a skilled operator to soon determine the proper charging of the receptacle 5 to suit the shape and size of the receptacle in such manner as to give the most efficient-pulverizing results.

The plates 40 form a substantially continuous ring around the inside of the receptacle 5 and serve to increase the wedging and direct crushing pressure eifect to which the crushable material is subjected by the crushing surfaces aiforded by the crushing elements 48, the tubular crushing member 3.6 and the-inside surface of the r cep cle 5.

In some cases the plates 40 may be omitted and the upper or rim portion of the receptacle-5 curved or inclined inwardly to provide a wedging, surface corresponding to that afforded by'said plates.

As previously stated, stop collars 44 carried by the supporting and guide rods 4| of the plates 40 may be threadedly engaged with said rods to, pro.- vide a means for adjusting; said plates vertically to vary the height of the plates when the latter are in their lowermost position. Such adjustment of the plates 40 in-relation to the height oi the charge of crushing elements wand the crushable material contained in the receptacle 5 assist the operator in adjustingv operating conditions to obtain the best results,

In dry pulverizing procedures employing currents of gas instead of water or other liquidsv the top of receptacle 5 may be closed by a suitable cover overlying spider l1.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

The embodimentsv of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

I claim: v H l 1. A pulverizing and classifying machine comprising a receptacle having a peripheral outlet and an inlet into which the material to be pulverized is introduced, a vertically extending tubular crushing member centrally arranged in said receptacle, actuating means rotatably supporting the tubular member thereon and operable to cause said member to travel in an arcuate path about a vertical axis ofiset from the central vertical axis of said member, the latter being freely rotatable relative to said actuating'means and. about its own central vertical axis, a plurality of loosecrushing elements in said receptacle and movable, in response tomovement of said tubular crushing member by said actuating means to; transmit! crushing pressure do the crushable material contained insaidreceptacle, means; for injecting streams of-fluid upwardly into said rec'eptacle to effect-classificationof the crushable material during the" crushingoperation and means gfor fejecting material which has been crushed to the desired-particle size from the upper portionof the-receptacle through said outlet; said "last mentionedmeans c'omprising' a plurality of arms arranged-in the-upper portion of the receptacle, said arms bein'g s'ecured and rotated by said actuating means:

2. A pulverizing andclassifying machine comprising a. vertical receptacle having a bottom wall and aiperipheral wall extendingupwardly from said'ib'ottom wall, said receptaclejbeing provided with aninletto' which'the material to belp'ulverizedis' delivered and with a peripheral outlet for discharge of pulverized material located at the top of said receptacle, a vertically extending tubular crushing member centrally arranged in said receptacle and extending from the bottom to the top of the receptacle, actuating means rotatably supporting the tubular member thereon and operable to cause said member to travel in an arcuate path about a vertical axis offset from the central vertical axis of said member, the latter being freely rotatable relatively to said actuating means and about its own vertical axis and ceptacle and movable in response to movement of said tubular crushing member by said actuating means to transmit crushing pressure to the crushable material contained in said receptacle.

3. A pulverizing and classifying machine as set forth in claim 2 including means for injecting streams of fluid upwardly into said receptacle to effect classification of the crushable material during the crushing operation.

4. A pulverizing and classifying machine as set forth in claim 2, including means for ejecting material which has been crushed to the desired particle size from the upper portion of the receptacle through said outlet, said ejecting means comprising a plurality of arms arranged in the upper portion of the receptacle, said arms being secured and rotated by said actuating means.

5. A pulverizing and classifying machine comprising a receptacle having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said receptacle being provided with an inlet to which the material to be pulverized is delivered and with a peripheral outlet for discharge of pulverized material located a substantial distance above said bottom wall, an elongated vertically extending tubular crushing member centrally arranged in said receptacle and extending from the bottom to the top of the receptacle, actuating means supporting the tubular crushing member and operable to cause said member to travel in an arcuate path about a vertical axis offset from the central axis of said member, and a plurality of loose crushing elements in said receptacle and movable, in response to movement of said tubular crushing member by said actuating means, to transmit crushing pressure to the crushable material contained in said receptacle.

6. A pulverizing and classifying machine as set forth in claim 5, in which the elongated tubular crushing member is rotatably supported by said actuating means so that said tubular member is freelyrotatable relatively to said actuating means and about its own central vertical axis.{ T 7. A pulverizing and classifying machine comprising a stationary open-top receptacle having a bottom wall and a peripheral'wall extending provided with a concentric bore through which said sleeve extends, means for rotating said sleeve about said shaft to thereby cause said tubular crushing member to travel in "an/arcuate path about a vertical axis offset from thecentral vertical axis of said member and a plurality of loose crushing elements in said receptacle and movable, in response to movement of said tubular crushing member in said arcuate path, to transmit crushing pressure to the crushable material contained in said receptacle.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7, including radially extending arms positioned in the upper portion of said receptacle and rotatable with said sleeve, said arms being secured to an upper portion of the sleeve projecting above the upper end of said tubular crushing member.

9. A machine as set forth in claim *7, including an annular crushing surface extending around and projecting inwardly from the upper portion of the peripheral wall of the receptacle, said annular crushing surface being positioned below but adjacent said peripheral outlet.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 7, including an annular crushing surface extending around and projecting inwardly from the upper portion of the peripheral wall of the receptacle, said annular crushing surface being positioned below but adjacent said peripheral outlet and consisting of a circular series of plates and means yieldingly suspending said plates from the circumferential wall of the receptacle so that said plates are permitted to have a limited independent vertical movement.

11. A machine of the character described com prising a stationary vertical receptacle presenting a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall and provided with a peripheral outlet located adjacent the top of the receptacle, means for introducing the material to be crushed into said receptacle, an elongated vertically extending tubular crushin member centrally arranged in said receptacle and extending from the bottom to the top of the receptacle, actuating means supporting the tubular member and operable to cause said member to travel in an arcuate path about a vertical axis offset from the central vertical axis of said memher, a, plurality of loose crushing elements in said receptacle and movable, in response to movement of said tubular crushing member in said arcuate path, to transmit crushing pressure to the erushable material contained in said receptacle, means forming an annular crushing surface extending around and projecting inwardly from the upper portion of the peripheral wall of the receptacle, said annular crushing surmai face; being located below butadjacent said pee mountingeach plate for independent vertical movement, said last mentioned means comprising guide rods extending upwardly from each plate through guide members attached to the peripheral wall of the receptacle and provided with threaded adjusting collars supported by the upper surfaces of said guide members and springs encircling the guide rods and positioned between the plate and said guide members.

. p PAUL DARAGON.

' REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file" ot this patent:

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